Pope Condemns Gaza Violence Amid New Civilian Casualties and Aid Crisis
Pope Condemns Gaza Violence Amid New Civilian Casualties and Aid Crisis
In a significant address, Pope Leo XIV has vehemently condemned the escalating “barbarity” of the conflict in Gaza and the “indiscriminate use of force,” following reports from Gaza’s health ministry that at least 73 Palestinians were killed while queuing for humanitarian aid. The ministry stated on Sunday that these fatalities occurred in various locations, primarily in northern Gaza, with 67 reportedly killed by Israeli fire near the Zikim crossing.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) corroborated parts of the account, noting that a 25-truck food convoy encountered “massive crowds of hungry civilians” who subsequently came under gunfire shortly after entering Gaza. WFP emphasized the “completely unacceptable” nature of violence against civilians seeking aid.
Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of al-Shifa hospital, reported receiving 48 deceased and 150 wounded individuals from the Zikim area since Sunday morning, though he could not definitively attribute the deaths to the Israeli army or armed groups. The Israeli military acknowledged shooting at a gathering it deemed a threat, admitting to some casualties but disputing the numbers reported by Gaza officials.
Adding to the alarm, Israel’s military issued new evacuation orders for areas of central Gaza, including parts of Deir al-Balah, where many displaced Palestinians and international aid organizations are located. Residents reported Israeli airstrikes on three houses, prompting a mass exodus.
Pope Leo XIV, speaking from Castel Gandolfo, reiterated his call for an “immediate end to the barbarity of the war and for a peaceful resolution.” He also expressed anguish over a recent Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church, which killed three and injured ten, including the parish priest. The Pope appealed to the international community to uphold humanitarian law, protect civilians, and prohibit collective punishment and forced displacement.
Meanwhile, the UN’s agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, accused Israeli authorities of “starving civilians in Gaza,” including one million children, despite having ample food stockpiled. UNRWA reiterated its ability to distribute aid if access were granted, highlighting the severe malnutrition among infants. This comes as the UN reported 875 people killed since July 13 while seeking food, largely near sites managed by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has replaced the traditional UN-led aid system since Israel imposed a blockade on March 2.
The conflict, ignited by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, continues to exact a heavy toll. Gaza’s health ministry reported on Sunday that 58,895 Palestinians have been killed and 140,980 injured in Israeli attacks since the war began, as the Israeli military continues operations to dismantle what it describes as terrorist infrastructure, even in areas suspected of holding Israeli hostages.
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